When home buyers outnumber sellers, the result can be a multiple offer scenario. If you’re searching for homes
in a competitive market environment, you’ll want to take time to understand the dynamics of multiple offers and
understand how this might impact your negotiating strategy. Some questions to discuss with your buyer’s representative:

Will I know if I’m in a multiple offer situation?
Not necessarily. Typically it works to a seller’s advantage if
buyers are told they are competing with one another. But
a seller must give their agent permission to disclose the
existence of other offers before this can be shared with your
buyer’s rep.

How will offers be presented to the seller?
The seller decides how they want this handled, either
individually or as a group presentation. Once presented, a
seller can elect to accept (or counter) one offer, reject all
offers, or reject all offers in conjunction with a request to
resubmit a “highest and best” offer.

Will the details of my offer be kept confidential from 
other buyers?
The only way to preserve confi dentiality is to ask the sellers
to sign a confidentiality agreement before presenting your
offer (which also applies to their agent). However, if the seller
decides to have a group presentation of offers, you’ll either have
to withdraw your offer or revoke the confidentiality agreement.

If my offer has the highest price, can I be confi dent that 
I’ll beat out other buyers?
No. Sellers can accept whichever offer they consider “best”
and that may be based on other factors, like the certainty of
closing (e.g., the buyer is already approved on their mortgage)
or fl exibility on closing dates.

What are my options for writing a stronger offer?
In addition to fi rming up your fi nancing (or paying cash) and
offering fl exibility on timing, there are a number of other things
you can do, including eliminating contingencies, increasing
your earnest money deposit or paying closing costs, to name a
few. Discuss your options with your buyer’s rep.

If I don’t want to compete with other buyers, can I withdraw 
my offer?
Yes, as long as you deliver notifi cation to the seller revoking
your offer before they’ve accepted it.
Every home buyer benefi ts from having their interests
represented in a real estate transaction, but in a multiple
offer scenario, you’ll gain even more if you’re working with an
Accredited Buyer’s Representative. Discuss these and other
questions with your buyer’s rep so you can anticipate each
step in the negotiation process and improve the likelihood
of a successful outcome.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com